Help, Please Send a Buggy....

The highlight of our stroll to Porth Low via Porthmellon and the coast path, was sighting the mystery Falcon which is occasionally turning up. Eleanora's has been mentioned....We were resting on a seat overlooking Thomas Porth when a flurry of small birds attracted my attention. Causing the scare was a large falcon, our immediate reaction was Peregrine BUT, the poor light made seeing any ID features impossible. Did it have long wings and tail? Pass. It flew over us quite low and fast. It was almost immediately reported on the CB as having flown up Lower Moors towards the coast. Hm. Eleanora's would be great.
Pam photographed a beautiful Wheatear which flew up onto a gate beside her.

It became cold sitting on a seat at Porth Low, scoping towards Taylor Island, scrutinising the extensively exposed rocks and sand of a very low tide . We saw a Blue Rock Thrush here on Pam's birthday, in the 90's I believe. Notable for the sight of Justin in his canary yellow and green Norwich City shirt standing out amid the largely drab clad birders.

Eventually the lack of sun and a cool NE wind moved us on. Not before we'd seen a Med. Gull, a Dunlin, four Ringed Plovers and two Black Redstarts, hearing a Common Sandpiper.
No sign of the Turtle Dove near the duck pond, not a lot else either until we got to the ISBG hide at Lower Moors. There, a very bright and lovely Jack Snipe showed unusually well in the open but, too distant for a compact camera. I carried my scope to-day. It's manic bobbing made me wish I'd taken Stugeron.
A Common Snipe flew in close enough for Pam to take this photo with her Ixus compact.

For the first time in many years, Old Town Cafe is open. A hot drink was welcome.
News of a Red-breasted Flycatcher in the churchyard sent us around the bay. A Whimbrel flew in to feed on insects in the swathes of seaweed left by the tide.
The Fascicularia are looking good at the moment. We tried to grow them in pots at home, they grew lots of greenery but never flowered like this.

No sooner had we got there than we learnt that the R B Fly  had disappeared as news broke of a possible Blackpoll Warbler and an R B Fly at the Trelegraph end of Lower Moors.We re-traced our footsteps, running the gauntlet of many birders on the narrow, tree - enshrouded footpath, wet marsh on either side, squeezing past tripods, backpacks and paunches. No sign of either bird. It was a very slow trudge/hobble back to the flat, my right achilles was very painful. That's a new experience. Pam's back and hips not good either. Oh for transport.
Pam was looking at the Turnstones which scurry about on the beach under our window at high tide when, leaning out, she noticed a half grown Grey Seal Pup beached below. It was nearly dark but I managed to lighten the photo.

I asked for help on the CB and was advised to phone Heike the vet. She was lovely, saying that its mother lived in the harbour and the pup often spent the night resting on the beach. I am to phone her again in the morning if it's motionless.